Enzo Maresca finds his 'new Rodri'! Man City agree record-breaking deal for Lille starlet Ayyoub Bouaddi

Man City have moved decisively to fill the void left by Rodri, securing a deal for Morocco midfielder Bouaddi from Lille. According to The Athletic, the agreement with Lille consists of an initial €95 million plus €5 million in potential add-ons. The teenager has put pen to paper on a long-term deal keeping him at the Etihad Stadium until the summer of 2031, which also contains a club option to extend his stay by an additional year.

The pursuit intensified following significant changes in the City engine room this summer. The deal for Bouaddi comes after City’s €60m sale of Rodri to Barcelona, as Enzo Maresca admitted that the club's priority was to find a "new Rodri" to solve their midfield problem.

The financial scale of the operation highlights just how highly Maresca and the City scouting department value the youngster. This landmark agreement makes Bouaddi Lille’s all-time record sale, easily surpassing the €80m Arsenal spent on Nicolas Pepe in 2019.

Having been left out of Lille's matchday squad against Angers to finalise the transfer, Bouaddi leaves France with a burgeoning reputation. The Morocco international became Lille’s youngest-ever player at the age of 16 years and three days when he made his debut in a Conference League tie in September 2023, having come through the French side’s academy.

Bouaddi’s stock rose significantly following his performances on the 2026 World Cup. He featured prominently in Morocco's engine room during the summer tournament, locking down a starting berth in five of their six fixtures as the Atlas Lions charged into the quarterfinals. His tactical maturity and calmness under fire stood out immediately, most notably when he dictated the tempo against Brazil and finished a hard-fought 1-1 stalemate having registered more touches than any of his peers.

The teenager's international journey has been a notable talking point in recent months. Having previously represented France across various youth age groups from the Under-16s up to the Under-21s, Bouaddi officially switched his sporting nationality to represent Morocco in May, immediately paying off as he cemented himself as an indispensable pillar for his national side.

Despite his tender age, Bouaddi possesses a level of experience that belies his years. Across his third full year operating at the senior level last term, the industrious midfielder racked up 42 outings in all competitions while helping Lille secure a third-place finish in Ligue 1 alongside a lucrative ticket to the Champions League.

As City prepare for a new era without some of their most decorated veterans, the acquisition of Bouaddi represents a clear strategy of targeting the best young talent in the world. The Moroccan will join a squad that is currently undergoing a significant refresh, but his arrival provides a clear answer to the club's defensive midfield questions.